Hi.
The speedometer on my 82 Aspencade stops at 120km pr hour. Being considerably older than the machine, I have never taken it to the test to check out the actual top speed, but judging from what movement is left in the throttle when doing 100 or so it seems right.
Resently, however, I came across a spec sheet stating that this machine is rated to do 200+.
That kind of makes me wonder what is right and wrong in this.
Are there different versions of the machine or is my speedometer not the original one? Can any of you knowledgeable people shed some light on the matter?
Thanks

Thanks to all responders.
So - it seems likely that my speedometer is not the original, since it stops at 120kph. Just out of curiosity: Does anyone have a picture of the original one?
I have included a picture of mine.

Thanks to all responders.
So - it seems likely that my speedometer is not the original, since it stops at 120kph. Just out of curiosity: Does anyone have a picture of the original one?
I have included a picture of mine.
1528172962046-187631903.jpg

The 80mph speedo was standard on US vehicles for a number of years. I believe (and I'm sure some of our American brethren will confirm) that it was supposed to make drivers keep their speed down to save fuel/emissions..?

It was a federal law for all cars, pickup trucks and motorcycles to have only an 85 mph speedometer from September 1979 to March 1982. I do not know how long the manufacturer's actually installed the 85 mph. I can not find a reference to when the law was actually repealed.

I believe it was attempt by the NHTSA to fool the general public that their vehicles would not go any faster than 85 mph.

Thanks to all responders.
So - it seems likely that my speedometer is not the original, since it stops at 120kph. Just out of curiosity: Does anyone have a picture of the original one?
I have included a picture of mine.
1528172962046-187631903.jpg

Yes that is the correct speedometer. Some time back a couple of young guys were looking at my 1800, one of them looked at the speedometer and said "wow, this thing does 150mph", I didn't say anything.

Years ago I let my 1100 stretch her legs on a lonely strip of interstate, I had to determine speed by the tach. The tach reads 4000 RPM at 60 mph, 5000 RPM at 75 mph so that's 15 mph for each 1000 RPM. I still had throttle left at 7500 RPM, and decided I was going fast enough. At 15mph per 1000 RPM, that figures out to about 112.5 mph (181 kph). It would have happily gone faster......

Years ago I let my 1100 stretch her legs on a lonely strip of interstate, I had to determine speed by the tach. The tach reads 4000 RPM at 60 mph, 5000 RPM at 75 mph so that's 15 mph for each 1000 RPM. I still had throttle left at 7500 RPM, and decided I was going fast enough. At 15mph per 1000 RPM, that figures out to about 112.5 mph (181 kph). It would have happily gone faster......

Thanks to all responders.
So - it seems likely that my speedometer is not the original, since it stops at 120kph. Just out of curiosity: Does anyone have a picture of the original one?
I have included a picture of mine.
1528172962046-187631903.jpg

That is the original. Thanks to the 1970s oil embargo, and subsequent oil shortage in the US, the US federal government mandated a 55 mph speed limit, with the (disproved) belief that it would reduce fuel consumption.

In 1979, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration added a regulation for speedometers on all new vehicles, placing an emphasis on the 55-mph mark, and for a maximum speed reading of 85 mph. Though the 85-mph mandate only lasted until early 1981, most manufacturers kept the 85 mph maximum reading on their speedometers until the vehicles were redesigned years later.